March 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Education Secretary Linda

McMahon said on Sunday that changes Columbia University made

under pressure from the Trump administration were good first

steps toward it restoring federal funding that was pulled over

allegations the school tolerated antisemitism on campus.

"We are on the right track now to make sure the final

negotiations to unfreeze that money will be in place," McMahon

said on CNN's "State of the Union."

The Ivy League university in New York City laid out plans on

Friday to reform its disciplinary process, hire security

officers with arrest powers and appoint a new official with a

broad remit to review departments that offer courses on the

Middle East. It also banned face masks on campus if they were

being worn to break rules or laws.

The changes were in response to the Trump administration

pulling about $400 million in federal funds from the university,

citing the school's "continued inaction in the face of

persistent harassment of Jewish students."

McMahon said she has had good conversations with the

university's interim president, Katrina Armstrong.

"She said she knew that this was her responsibility to make

sure that children on her campus were safe. She wanted to make

sure there was no discrimination of any kind," McMahon said.

"She wanted to address any systemic issues that were

identified relative to the antisemitism on campus, so they have

worked very hard in a very short period of time."

Columbia has come under scrutiny for its role at the

forefront of a pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel student protest

movement that swept across campuses since Israel's war in Gaza

began following Hamas' attack on the Jewish state on October 7,

2023.

Pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel counter-protesters

have faced allegations of antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism.

The university has defended itself by saying it has worked

to balance freedom of expression without tolerating antisemitism

or other prejudice.

Columbia's response to the Trump administration is being

watched by other universities that the administration has

targeted as it advances its policy objectives in areas ranging

from campus protests to transgender sports and diversity

initiatives.

Some professors and students have denounced Columbia's

acquiescence to the Trump administration's demands.